Jacksonville Giants romp in overwhelming debut

Fast-break offense is too much for team with only five players at game.

Jacksonville's Edward Horton goes airborne against San Francisco on Saturday. For a gallery of photos from the game, go to Jacksonville.com.

If your child could use some math practice, have them keep score at a Jacksonville Giants game.

Be sure to have a pack of No. 2 pencils. And keep them hydrated or prepare to treat writer's cramp.

The Jacksonville Giants hit the century mark in the first half on their way to a 182-124 victory over the San Francisco Rumble in the Jacksonville franchises's American Basketball Association debut at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena.

Shooting guards Renaldo Norman and Antonio Lawrence scored 33 and 26 points to lead the Giants.

The visiting Rumble scored the first five points before Jacksonville went on a 12-point run. Lawrence, a former Wolfson and Jackson High School standout who tallied 19 points in the quarter, scored eight during the run. The Giants also went on scoring runs of nine and 12 as they stretched their lead to 49-25 by quarter's end.

San Francisco was only able to bring five players to the game, and the Giants showed no mercy in turning the game into a track meet. Utilizing a full-court press and fast-breaking at every opportunity, the Giants quickly wore down the visitors.

San Francisco played zone defense in an effort to conserve energy, and the Giants made them pay with hot 3-point shooting. Jacksonville hit 9 of 13 from 3-point range in the first quarter and improved in the second quarter.

No attendance figures were announced, but the crowd was estimated at 4,000.